Straightening machine



Jan. 21, 1969 M. URTEL. 3,422,651

STRAIGHTENING MACHINE Filed Dec. 16, 1965 Sheet of 2 @fig Jan. 21, 1969 M. URTEL. 3,422,651

STRAIGHTENNG MACHINE Filed Dec. 16, 1965 Sheet L of a United States Patent O 3,422,651 STRAIGHTENING MACHINE Max Urtel, Dudweiler, Saar, Germany, assigner to Ehrhardt & Sehmer, Maschinenfabrik A.G., Saarbruecken, Germany Filed Dec. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 514,298 Claims priority, application Germany, Dec. 24, 1964,

U.S. Cl. 72-162 8 Claims Int. Cl. B2ld 3/04 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to straightening machines in general, and more particularly to improvements in machines which may be utilized for straightening of large and bulky H-beams, I-beams, T-beams and similar pro filed metallic bodies. Still more particularly, the invention relates to heavy-duty straightening machines wherein two rows of horizontal straightening rolls are disposed between pairs of vertical straightening rolls whereby the horizontal rolls can straighten the web and the vertical rolls can straighten the ange or anges of a profiled steel beam, or vice versa.

In heretofore known straightening machines. the vertical rolls are mounted in bearing blocks which are located entirely in front of the main frame or in bearing blocks which are installed entirely within the contines of the main frame. A serious drawback of machines wherein the blocks for vertical rolls are located entirely in front of the main frame is that the horizontal rolls must be mounted on relatively long shafts which extend well beyond the front side of the main frame and, therefore, such shafts are subjected to excessive bending or flexing stresses, particularly if the machine is called upon to treat an exceptionally heavy piece of profiled steel stock. Also, and in order to prevent overdirnensioning of the machine, the radial dimensions of vertical rolls and their shafts must be kept within certain limits so that the strength of such rolls is not entirely satisfactory. When the bearing blocks for the vertical rolls are accommodated entirely within the contines of the main frame, the latter is either weakened or must be overdimensioned with resultant increase in cost and excessive space requirements in a manufacturing plant. In both instances, the Ways for the bearing blocks of vertical rolls are located directly in the path of scale which is separated from the stock in the course of a straightening operation whereby such scale hinders adjustments in the position of bearing blocks.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the invention to provide a very compact, relatively short and rugged heavy-duty straightening machine wherein the bearing blocks for the vertical rollers are mounted in a novel way and enable the rollers to participate considerably in a straightening operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the just outlined characteristics wherein the bearing blocks for vertical straightening rollers may be readily exchanged, replaced or adjusted so that the verti- Patented Jan. 2l, 1969 ice cal rollers of the two blocks may be moved nearer to or further away from each other.

A further object of the invention is to provide a straightening machine wherein the scale may be collected in a very simple way to prevent such scale from interfering with adjustments of straightening rollers and their housings.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a straightening machine for heavy profiled steel stock which may be rapidly and conveniently adjusted to treat different types of stock.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a straightening machine wherein the bearing blocks for the vertical straightening rollers may accommodate additional straightening rollers and wherein each such roller may participate not only in the straightening operation but also in advancing the stock through the machine.

A concomitant object of the invention is to provide a novel main frame for the improved straightening machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel ways and guide means for the adjustable parts of the straightening machine.

Briey stated, one feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a straightening machine for profiled steel bars or similar bulky and heavy stock. The machine comprises a main frame including a pair of upright frame members and upper and lower horizontal frame members extending between the upright frame members, aligned recesses provided in the front faces of the upright frame members, ways located in front of the front faces of upright frame members, a bearing block detachably supported by each of the ways and extending partially into the recess of the corresponding upright frame member, and straightening rollers mounted on each bearing block. Such rollers define a portion of an elongated horizontal path in which the stock travels lengthwise in the course of a straightening operation. The rollers are preferably driven so that they participate in the actual straightening operation and also serve to advance or to assist in advancing the stock lengthwise in the aforementioned path. Each of the ways preferably comprises a pair of spaced rails which are disposed at the opposite sides of and are parallel with the path for the stock so as to be located out of the way of scale `which is removed from the stock by the straightening rollers on the bearing blocks and which descends by gravity into the zone between the pairs of rails.

The machine further comprises two rows ot' horizontal straightening rollers which are mounted in the main frame between the two bearing blocks. Such horizontal rollers are respectively located above and below the aforementioned path and at least some of the low-er horizontal rollers are mounted in housings which are adjustable lengthwise of the path for the stock and are mounted on guide means located laterally of the path to prevent deposition of such scale which is removed by the horizontal rollers. The housings may be provided with or may support suitable intercepting devices which collect the scale.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved straightening machine itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, wiil be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of a specific embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a somewhat diagrammatic front elevational view of a heavy-duty straightening machine which embodies the present invention;

FIG. Z is an end elevational view of the machine as seen from the right-hand side of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the main frame with all of the rollers and bearing blocks removed;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the main frame as seen from the right-hand side of FIG. 3; and

FIG. is a fragmentary horizontal section through an end portion of the main frame shown in FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIGS. l and 2 illustrate a heavy-duty strainghtening machine which comprises a main frame including two spaced upright frame members 1 whose front faces are formed with relatively deep recesses or eutouts 1a to accommodate portions of strong bearing blocks 4 for pairs of vertical rollers 5. The inner or rear faces of the blocks 4 are closely adjacent to and may be slidable along the surfaces bounding the recesses 1a. As shown in FIG. 2, the depth or width of the blocks 4 is considerable so that these blocks may carry large-diameter vertical shafts 5a for the rollers 5. The rollers 5 of each pair are disposed at the opposite sides of the horizontal path in which the stock 100 travels in the course of a straightening operation.

The main frame also comprises an upper frame member 7 which extends between the upright frame members 1 and supports a row of housings 8a for the upper horizontal straightening rollers 6. A row of lower horizontal straightening rollers 6 is disposed in housings 8 which are mounted on a lower horizontal frame member or base 2. The rollers 6 are movable horizontally toward and away from each other. The rollers 6' are movable up and down and at least some housings 8 for the rollers 6' are also movable toward and away from each other along guide means 2a forming part of or connected with the base 2. As shown in FIG` 1, the rollers 6 of the upper row are preferably staggered with reference to the rollers 6 of the lower row. It is preferred to place the rollers 6 of the upper row in immediate proximity to the crosshead 7 so that the shafts of manner of mounting the rollers 6, 6' and their housings 8a, 8 in the main frame of the straightening machine is described in the eopending application Ser. No. 512,162, now abandoned, of 'lioni Schuetzmann which is assigned to the same assignee.

The ways 3 for the bearing blocks 4 of the vertical rolls 5 may be produced separately and are located forwardly of the base 2, namely, nearer to the observer of FIG. l (see particularly FIG. 4). rIlhe cutouts or channels 15 in the top faces of ways 3 may be covered by suitable intercepting or collecting means for scale which is separated from the stock 100 by the vertical rollers S. The blocks 4 slide on pairs of upwardly extending rails 13 which form part of the respective ways 3 and are shown in FIG. 4. The rollers 5 may be driven by motors mounted in or on the respective bearing blocks 4 so that such rollers 5 may straighen and also serve to advance the stock 100 in the path extending between the upper and lower rows of horizontal rollers. The rollers 6, 6' will straighten the web and the rollers S will straighten the flanges of the stock [00. Since the rollers 5 can and preferably do participate 'n the actual straightening operation, their shafts 5a ihould be as strong as possible without necessitating an )verdimensioning of the machine. This has been achieved n a very simple and unobvions way by making the blocks l to extend into the recesses la of the upright frame memiers 1 and by dimensioning the blocks 4 in such a way hat their rear faces, can actually slide along the frame members 1. In many heretofore known straightening iachines, the vertical rollers are mounted on relatively leak shafts because there is no room for bearing blocks which are large and strong enough to support largediameter shafts. Consequently, in such conventional machines, the vertical rollers serve mainly to assist in advancing the stock but cannot assist in the actual straightening operation. The exact dimensions of the vertical rollers 5 will depend On the shape and size of the stock.

The position of the two bearing blocks 4 may be reversed and each of these blocks may be shifted lengthwise along the corresponding ways 3. If the position of the blocks 4 shown in FIG. 1 is reversed, or if each of these blocks is turned through 180 degrees, the vertical rollers 5 will be moved nearer to the outermost horizontal rollers 6, 6. Such adjustments will be carried out in dependency on the type of stock, on the dimensions of the stock, on the dimensions of vertical rollers S and/or on the dimensions and distribution of horizontal rollers 6, 6. Furthermore. each bearing block 4 may be replaced by a spare block wherein the vertical rollers 5 are mounted at a greater or lesser distance from each other, depending on the extent of deformation of stock and on the distance between the flanges of such stock.

In FIG. l, the numerals 9 denote intercepting or collecting devices which are suspended between the housings 8 of lower horizontal rollers 6' and form pockets to receive and lo collect scale which is removed from the stock 100 while the stock advances between the bearing blocks 4. For example, each intercepting device 9 may resemble a collapsible bag made of leather or the like, and their purpose is to prevent scale from descending onto the base 2. The guide means 2a for the housings 8 are laterally offset with reference to the stock 10() so that the Scale which is removed by the rollers 6, 6' and descends by gravity cannot accumulate on such guide means. Also, the intercepting devices 9 can prevent scale from reaching the eutouts of nothings 8 in which the lower rollers 6 or their blocks are guided for movement up and down. i.e., toward or away from the erosshead 7. The intercepting devices for scale which is removed by the vertical rollers 5 may resemble carpets or runners which can be placed between the rails I3 shown in FIG. 4 and then prevent entry of scale into the channels 15. The gaps between the rear faces of the bearing blocks 4 and the frame members l are not in the path of descending scale so that such scale cannot interfere with eventual adjustments of the blocks 4 along the ways 3.

The upper horizontal rollers 6 are driven by motors 12 which are mounted on the main frame behind the crosshead 7.

As shown in FIG. l. each bearing block 4 further carries a horizontal straightening roller 16 which is aligned with the rollers 6 of the lower row and can engage the underside of the web o-n the stock 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the rollers 16 are located between the two pairs of vertical rollers 5; however, if the position of the blocks 4 is reversed, the rollers 16 will be the first and last to come in actual contact with the stock. The rollers 16 may be driven by the same prime mover as the corresponding vertical rollers 5 and then participate not only in straightening but also in the feed of stock through the machine.

The advantages of my improved straightening machine can be summarized as follows:

The blocks 4 can accommodate large-diameter shafts 5u for the vertical rollers 5 so that such rollers can transmit and withstand considerable stresses during treatment of a very strong and/or unsyrnmetrical workpiece. The rollers 5 and 16 cannot interfere with adjustments of the horizontal rollers 6, 6' longitudinally of as well as toward or away from the crosshead 7. The blocks 4 may be exchanged. inverted aud/Or replaced without necessitating dismantling of the remainder of the straightening machine. Also, the length of the space allotted for the horizontal roilers 6, 6 may be reduced to a minimum so that the main frame is very compact and can readily withstand considerable stresses. This is due to the fact that the blocks 4 are located outside of the area occupied by the rollers 6. 6 whereby this area need not accommodate the vertical rollers 5, The housings 8 for the lower horizontal rollers 6' may be located directly below the crosshead 7. Le., not below the upper horizontal rollers 6 (Ysee also the aforementioned application of Schuetzmann) so that they are not located in the path of descending scale. In other words the guide means 2a for the housings 8 of the lower rollers 6 are located behind the rollers 6 and cannot be reached by scale. When the blocks -1 overlie the corresponding ways 3, they can shield such ways against entry of scale into the channels l5 shown in FIG. l and onto the rails 13, The overall length of the machine is reduced to a minimum because the ways 3 for the blocks 4 are located in front of but need not extend lengthwise beyond the upright frame members 1. Also, and as actually shown in FIG. 1, the vertical rollers S may be closely adjacent to the longitudinal ends of the main frame so that the leading end of the stock 100 is engaged and advanced as soon as it is moved into the range of the one or the other pair of rollers S.

HG. 5 shows that the front face 10 of the base 2 is located forwardly of the front faces 11 of the upright trame members 1 and that the bearing blocks 4 extend forwardly of the front tace 11 and are located in front of the faces l0. The line 14 indicates the central vertical symmetry plane of a block 4. and such plane is disposed between the vertical rollers 5. The roller 16 of the block 4 is not shown in FlG. 5. The stock 100 travels in a path which extends to both sides of the line 14, ie., between the pairs of rollers 5. whereby the rails 13 of the ways 3 are located outside of such path and are not likely to collect scale which is separated from the stock in response to engagement by the rollers 5 and 16. ln other words,

scale descends toward the channels l5 which, however,

are covered in the aforementioned way so that such scale can be readily collected and disposed of.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omi.ting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of the hereinbefore disclosed contribution to the art and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to Letters Patent is:

1. In a straightening machine for profiled steel bars and similar stock, a main frame comprising frame members and upper and lower horizontal frame members extending between said upright frame members, said upright frame members having front faces provided with recesses; ways provided in front of said faces; a bearing block supported on each of said ways and having a portion extending into the respective recess; first straightbe protected by a pair of upright ening rollers mounted on said bearing blocks, said first rollers dening a portion of an elongated path in which the stock travels in the course of a straightening operation; and additional straightening rollers mounted on said upper and lower horizontal frame members on opposite sides of said elongated path in engagement with stock traveling along said elongated path.

2. A structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said ways comprises a pair of rails disposed at the opposite sides of said path so that scale which is separated from the stock by said first rollers descends in the space between such pairs of rails.

3. A structure as set forth in claim 2, further comprising intercepting means provided between the rails of each bearing block for collecting scale which descends from the stock.

4. A structure as set forth in claim l, wherein said rst rollers consist of a pair of rollers supported by each of said bearing blocks rotatable about vertical axes and wherein each first roller comprises a vertical shaft having a diameter which suffices to enable the respective roller to participate in the straightening operation.

5. A structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said additional second rollers include rows of upper and lower horizontal straightening rollers defining the path between said bearing blocks, a housing for each of said lower horizontal rollers, and guide means for slidably supporting at least some of said housings.

6. A structure as set forth in claim 5, wherein said ways are located forwardly of said guide means.

7. A structure as set forth in claim S, wherein said guide means are laterally offset with reference to said path so that scale which is removed from the stock by said horizontal rollers and descends by gravity cannot deposit on said guide means.

8. A structure as set forth in claim 7, wherein said guide means is located directly below said upper frame member and wherein said horizontal rollers are located in front of said upper frame member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS CHARLES W. LANHAM, Prinmry Examiner. K. C. DECKER, Assistant Exrmiiner.

U.S. Cl. XR. 72-165 

